Here the Host 'stynteth' Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 217r
2 of 3 folios
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Myn eres ake of þin darsty speche
Now such a rymere þe deuel y beteche
This may be wel rym dogereƚƚ quod he
Why so quod I why wilt þou lette me
More of my tale þan anoþer man
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Seþens it is þe beste Rym I can
By god quod he pleynly I þe say
Þou schalt no lenger rymen heere to day
Thow dost nougħt elles but dispendest tyme
Sire at O word þou schalt no lengere ryme
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Let se wheþer þou canst telle ougħt in geste
Or telle in prose somwhat at þe leste
In which þer be som merþe and som doctrine
Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne
I wol ȝou telle a litel þing in prose
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Þat oughte like ȝou as I suppose /
Or elles certeyn ȝe ben to daungerous
It is a moral tale vertuous
Al be it tolde somtyme in sondry wyse
Of sondry folk as I schal ȝou deuyse
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As þus ȝe wote euery euangeliste
That telleþ vs of ihū criste
Ne saiþ nouȝt al þing as his felawe doþ
But natheles here sentence is al soþ
And aƚƚ acorden as in here sentence
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Al be þer in here tellyng difference
For some of hem seyn more and some lesse
Whan þey his pytous passioun expresse
I mene of mark matheu luke and Ioħn
But douteles here sentence is al on
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Therfore lordinges aƚƚ I ȝou beseche
If þat ȝe þinke I varie in my speche
As þus if þat I telle somwhat more
Of prouerbis þen ȝe haue herd byfore
Comperhendit in þis litel tretis heere
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To enforce with þeffecte of my matiere